2013 Lexus GS450h fuel efficiency

701-2. Hybrid system
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
Hybrid system features
Gasoline engine
Electric motor (traction motor)
Your vehicle is a hybrid vehicle. It has characteristics different from
conventional vehicles. Be sure you ar e closely familiar with the charac-
teristics of your vehicle, and operate with care.
The hybrid system combines the use of a gasoline engine and an elec-
tric motor (traction motor) according to driving conditions, improving
fuel efficiency and redu cing exhaust emissions.
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
932. Instrument cluster
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Instrument cluster
■ECO lamp and SPORT lamp
●When sport mode is selected, SPORT lamp (red) will illuminate.
●When all of the following conditions are satisfied and Eco-friendly driving, ECO
lamp (blue) will illuminate. (ECO lamp will become brighter the more Eco-friendly
driving you perform. Also, while the vehicle is stopped or the acceleration exceeds
Zone of Eco driving, ECO lamp turns off. (→P. 92) However, when Eco drive
mode is selected, while the vehicle is stopped or the acceleration exceeds Zone of
Eco driving, ECO lamp does not turn off.):
• Driving with the shift lever in D
• Paddle shift switch is not operated.
• Either normal mode or Eco drive mode is selected.
• The vehicle speed is approximately 80 mph (130 km/h) or below.
■Tachometer
Hybrid System Indicator switches to the tachometer when driving mode is in sport
mode.
■Engine speed
On hybrid vehicles, engine speed is precisely controlled in order to help improve
fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions etc.
There are times when the engine speed that is displayed may differ even when vehi-
cle operation and driving conditions are the same.
■Customization
Settings (e.g. on/off operation of ECO lamp) can be changed.
(Customizable features →P. 807)
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the engine and its components
●Do not let the indicator needle of the tachometer enter the red zone, which indi-
cates the maximum engine speed.
●The engine may be overheating if the engine coolant temperature gauge is in the
red zone (H). In this case, immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place, and check
the engine after it has cooled completely. ( →P. 7 74 )
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Hybrid transmission
While the power switch is in ON mode, move the shift lever with the
brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is
completely stopped.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noises, set the shift lever in D for normal driving.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerating forces andengine braking forces.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( → P. 2 0 2 )
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Operation of the air conditioning system in Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating/cooling operations and fan speed of the air
conditioning system to enhance fuel efficiency (→P. 364). To improve air condition-
ing performance, adjust the fan speed or turn off Eco drive mode.
■Automatic operation of the seat heater during Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating operation and fan speed of the air conditioning
system to enhance fuel efficiency. If the driving mode select switch is switched to Eco
drive mode in cold temperatures, the seat heater will be automatically operated to
assist heating performance.
■Sport mode automatic deactivation
Sport mode is automatically deactivated if the power switch is turned off after driving
in sport mode.
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
3775-2. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
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Interior features
■When the outside temperature exceeds 75°F (24°C) and the air conditioning sys-
tem is on
●In order to reduce the air conditioning power consumption, the air conditioning
system may switch to recirculated air mode automatically. This may also reduce
fuel consumption.
●Recirculated air mode is selected as a default mode when the power switch is
turned on.
●It is possible to switch to outside air mode at any time by pressing .
■Automatic mode for air intake control
In automatic mode, the system detects exhaust gas and other pollutants and auto-
matically switches between outside air and recirculated air modes.
When the dehumidification function is off, and the fan is operating, turning automatic
mode on will activate the dehumidification function.
■Micro dust and pollen filter
●In order to prevent the windshield from fogging up when the outside air is cold, the
following may occur:
• Outside air mode does not switch to (recirculated air) mode.
• The dehumidification function operates.
• The operation cancels after approximately 1 minute.
●In rainy weather, the windows may fog up. Press .
●In extremely humid weather, the windows may fog up.
●The pollens are filtered out even if the micro dust and pollen filter is turned off.
■Operation of the air conditioning system in Eco drive mode
In the Eco drive mode, the air conditioning system is controlled as follows to priori-
tize fuel efficiency:
●Engine speed and compressor operation controlled to restrict heating/cooling
capacity
●Fan speed restricted when automatic mode is selected
To improve air conditioning performance, perform the following operations:
●Adjust the fan speed
●Turn off Eco drive mode
■When the outside temperature falls to nearly 32°F (0 °C)
The dehumidification function may not operate even when is selected.
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
5915-7. Other interior features
5
Interior features
Blows air from the seatHi
Mid
Lo
Off
The indicator light (green) on the
switch and the level indicator lights
(green) come on.
■The seat heaters/seat ventilators can be used when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■The seat heater timer control
The seat heater automatically switches from Hi → Mid → Lo → Off. The switching
timing differs depending on the temperature inside the cabin etc. when the seat
heater was operated.
■Automatic operation of the seat heater during Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating operations and fan speed of the air conditioning
system to enhance fuel efficiency. If the driving mode select switch is switched to Eco
drive mode in cold temperatures, the seat heater may be automatically operated to
assist heating performance.
■Button lock function (vehicles with rear control panel)
To prevent inadvertent operation, some buttons on the rear armrest can be locked.
( → P. 383)
■Rear control panel illumination off function (vehicles with rear control panel)
Control panel illumination on the rear armrest can be turned off. ( →P. 3 8 3 )
Seat ventilators (front seats only)
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GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Ti r e v a l v e
Tire pressure gauge
Remove the tire valve cap.
Press the tip of the tire pressure gauge onto the tire valve.
Read the pressure using the gauge gradations.
If the tire inflation pressure is not at the recommended level, adjust the
pressure.
If you add too much air, press the center of the valve to deflate.
After completing the tire inflation pressure measurement and adjust-
ment, apply soapy water to the valve and check for leakage.
Put the tire valve cap back on.
■Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire inflation pressure every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Do not forget to check the spare.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent inflating, have it checked by your Lexus dealer.
Inspection and adjustment procedure
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7197-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GS450h_U (OM30D01U)
7
When trouble arises
CAUTION
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label).
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label [tire and load information label], you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when one or more of your tires is sig-
nificantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pres-
sure warning light) illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling
and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning system)
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction indicator is combined with the
low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light). When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illumi-
nated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
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